Container closure means



Sept' 8, 1935. .'B. F-. coNNl-:R ET Al. 2,054,033

CONTAINER CLOSURE MEANS' Original Filed May 4, 1954 .Big5 1715.55

,9 /9 wfg-gw@ 3 H /0 /3 /Qo /Z [271/5272: Urs .5gg/5ml?? E Canne? Wj//jm 27% E j* jgtt Dfwqy Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT F ICE =CONTAINER lGLOSURE iMEANS .original .application vMay v4., 1934, seria-1 No.

Divided v.and thispplication Jul-y 30,

1934, Serial No. 737,528. Renewed January 27,

17 Claims.

'This invention relates Lto container :closure means of the type having a Yreadily breakable portion which lis necessarily broken when the closure means or one member thereof ris removed to permit .access to or discharge .of thecontainer contents. A `closure :means of this character when properly put in place on a vcontainer serves, so long as it `remains lunbroken, las `a denite indication to Ithe ultimate consumer .and `to :each intermediate distributor `or dealer who handles the -package 4that the origi-nalacontents are intact and that there has been no substitution or adulteration. More particularly the present .invention relates to container closure means such as disclosed in Vour copending application, Serial No. 723,865, `of which this present vapplication is a division.

In a container closure -means of this Vtype there is ya read-ily breakable indicator member which maybe formedto also constitute a closureior-the container. Associated with -the readily breakable indicator member is 'a yconcealed vdevice which permits free movement-of the indicator in the closing direction into its normal yposition but which automatically -serves to Abreak a portion of the indicator member upon movement thereof in the opening Yor unsealing direction. The indicatornember serves aswa :Seal or lock for the closure, -and 4when broken it provides a definite AWarning to vanyone handling the package that the container may have been opened and the contents 4tampered with. The ultimate consumer-or any distributor or dealer, bynaccepting only a lpackage having the seal or indicator thereof intact, 'can 4thereby 4be certain that Lheis obtain-ing the original contents of the package as yshown Yby the trade mark or label or other marking thereon.

The object of the present invention is -to -provide a container 4closure means wherein :the 'indicator member or onterclosure, instead of `being 'directly yconnected with the container, -is held in place therein indirectly by means -of the prima-ry or yinner closure. The container may be utilized to prevent simultaneous Irotation of vthe primary and outer closures, but even `this is not essential.

-Other objects ofthe invention -will Abe apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the 'accompanying 4drawing `there Vis shown several different embodiments of 'the invention, 4but it 'will be understood that the drawing Lis intended `fori-ilustrativo purposes onlyJa-ndis .not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention,` the claims 'forming'fa *part -of this .specication being wel-iedupon :for 'that purpose.

`Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical .sectional yiewfof a container closure lmeans embodying the invention, v'.-th'e .clo- 15 sure means ,being :in 4place on .a :bottle which is shown :in felevation.

.'Fig. 2 fis a rfragmentary `v.plan yiew :fof the threaded metallic ring shown i-n Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. il, :miti-showing the indicator member @or outer .closure turned slightly in :the unscrewing .direction so as l.to break'the upper portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is ya vertical :sectional `view similar to Fig. l, but Ishowing .an Valternative .embodiment of the invention.

Fig. y5 is a plan fview iof the Y.primar-y :closure shown lin Fig. 4, this viewalso showing the metal device interposed between the `primary-.closureand the indicatore-r .outer closure.

IFig. v6 is afdetail perspective viewiof the :interposedmetal device shown in `Iiigsxiand.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view .of another alternative container :closure means .embodying the invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan -view of the .primary Aclosure shown .-in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view similar -ito Fig. 7, but showing another l.embodiment of the invention.

Referring to fthe drawing, yparticularly Figs. .1 to 13, l represents .a container with which lthe container `closure means dembodying the invention may be used, :the said container having `a mouth or opening lThe container is :shown as being a glass bottle, :but it will be understood that the invention 2may cbe used with a wide variety `of containers. f

The indicator-element or mem-ber 'lis :represen-ted Yat and it is shown-as being acompleteclosure -of theca-p type Lentirelycovering the opening 2 in the container, but the indicator member .is not unecessarily 'a complete closure. #Preferably and Vassl-1ow'n,the indicatormember 8 iis-.provided with an internal thread "Mier normally :preventing -movement of the said member f3 upward :or outward away 4'ironrthe'conta'iner., the said :thread nevertheless permitting relative rotative movement. VThe indicatorfmem-ber 3 has 'an externally visible element or 'portion which isadaptedto be readily broken 4or separated `Afrom ythe remainder of the member. As shown thisreadilyfbreakable or lseparable element or portion is lat the ftop,wa,fs indicated at '5,be`ing surrounded iby 19in. annular zone of weakness'shown Aatl.

The indicator member 3 may be formed of any one of a variety of materials, but it is preferred to mold the said member from a material of the synthetic resin class. Such a material is somewhat brittle and is readily breakable when provided With a suiciently thin zone of weakness such as that at 6, and it has the further advantages that it is available in a variety of colors and can be readily molded to provide any desired external trade mark or ornamental design. Synthetic resin material has the further advantage that upon breaking it does not formsharp fragments or splinters dangerous to the person opening the container. Container closures for the same general purpose as the present closure have commonly been made of glass or metal, and have been seriously objectionable because of the likelihood of injury to the hands of the user.

In addition to the indicator member or outer closure 3 there is a separate primary closure 'I which directly engages the container I to close the mouth 2 thereof. The closure 'I is covered or at least partly covered by the indicator member or outer closure 3, the relationship being such that the primary closure I cannot be removed while the indicator member or outer closure remains in place and unbroken. The closure 'I may be of any one of a variety of types, but it is shown as being of the cap type and as having an internal thread engaging an external thread 9 on the container adjacent the opening 2. The closure 'I may also be molded from a material of the synthetic resin class, and it is provided with a gasket or liner I which engages the top of the container or bottle to seal it in the usual manner.

As already stated, the indicator member or outer closure 3, instead of lbeing held in place by reason of direct engagement with the container, is held against removal solely by the primary closure. To this end there is provided a means separate from the container and held by theprimary closure, this means being adapted to be engaged by the aforesaid internal thread on the indicator member. The means for engaging the said thread and for thus holding the indicator member may vary in form and it may be a thread formed integrally with the primary closure, but in Figs. 1 to 3, we have shown a threaded metallic ring II structurally separate from the primary closure but held in place thereby. As shown the ring I I is provided with a peripheral rolled thread I2 surrounding the lower part of the primary closure 'I and is provided with an inward projecting flange I3 which engages the bottom of the closure l to prevent upward removal. Downward movement of the ring I I is prevented by the usual bead I4 on the bottle. The ring II engages with the container or bottle in such a way as to prevent relative rotation. As shown the bottle is provided above the bead I4 with two opposite lugs I5, I5 which enter notches IB formed in the flange I3 of the ring.

Associated with the readily breakable portion 5 of the indicator member 3 is a device structurally separate from the indicator member and adapted to permit the said member to be screwed into its normal position, but causing breaking of the portion 5 thereof when the member is turned in the opposite unscrewing direction. Preferably to facilitate the action of the breaking device, the readily breakable portion 5 is provided with internal teeth as indicated at I1. The teeth I'I are preferably very shallow in order to permit removal from the mold, such removal being possible by reason of the resilience of the molded material while still hot. The teeth as shown in the drawing is somewhat exaggerated in size.

While the invention is not so limited the breaking device may conveniently be a metallic element such as I8 having resilient pawls I9, I9. When the indicator member is being moved or screwed into its normal position, the said pawls I9, I9 freely snap over the teeth I1 of the breakable portion 5; but upon movement of the indicator member in the opposite or unscrewing direction, the pawls I9, I9 automatically engage and hold the said teeth I'l and thereby break the said portion 5. The primary closure 'I serves as the means for supporting the breaking device I8. As shown the closure I is provided with a square or otherwise non-circular recess 20 which is of suitable size to receive the device I8 and prevent relative rotation thereof.

In using the closure means shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the ring I I is rst put in place and the primary closure 'I is screwed into position in accordance with usual practice. Then the breaking device I8 is dropped into place in the recess in the closure 'I and the indicator member 3 is screwed into engagement with the thread I2 on the ring I I. It will be observed that as the indicator member is turned the ring II is held against rotation by means of the lugs I5, I5 on the bottle, and that the said ring is drawn upward until further upward movement is limited by the engagement of the horizontal flange thereof with the bottom of the primary closure l.

With the parts thus assembled access to the contents of the container can only be obtained by first forcibly unscrewing the indicator member 3. The pawls I9, I9 being in engagement with the teeth I'I, resist the turning movement, and the said pawls are bent upward, thus exerting an upward force on the portion 5 which breaks it in the upward direction as shown in Fig. 3. When the portion 5 has been broken out the remainder of the indicator member 3 can be removed and then the primary closure member 'I can be removed in the usual manner. Inasmuch as the ring II is held against rotation on the bottle there can be no tendency for the indicator member 3 to turn the primary closure 1.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that it is entirely impossible to obtain access to the contents of the container without first breaking out a portion of the indicator member 3. With the indicator member broken at the top, the consumer or in fact any one else handling the package, will know or at least have reason to suspect, that the contents of the container have been tampered with and he should refuse to accept the package. Thus by refusing to accept any package on which the indicator member is not intact, the consumer can positively protect himself against adulteration or substitution of the container contents. It will of course be understood that the indicator member will ordinarily carry a suitable trade-mark to provide additional protection to the consumer.

The construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is similar in principle to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but it diers in that there is only one auxiliary metallic element, this one element having the functions of the two elements II and I8 shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The container or bottle I is or may be exactly the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A primary closure 12 is provided which may be the same or substantially the same as the closure 'I.

A metallic bridge device or yoke 2I is provided gaseosa whichris-.shaped to. conform to thecrss sectional outline of the primary closure 1. The said' dev-icerhas artop portion 2=2 whichr engages the top portion of the closure I, `it--hasl two vertical. sideportions 23, 23. which engage the sidesv of the closure .la andiit :has two inward extendinghori ZontalI flanges 2:4., 24 which vengage :the 'bottom of. the closure .1a. These horizontal flange portions..24', 24 are notched .at 25,25 to receive the lugs. I5, .|:51on the bottle. It will be understood that the yoke 2 Izis sufficiently resilient to enable it', to be easily snapped into position after the closure 'Ie-:has kbeen put in yplace on the bottle. The yoke l2 I; .instead `of being .provided with definitelyY formed. screw. threads as is the ring shown in: Figs. 1 to.` 3, is :provided with resilient. teeth or'pawls 26,` 26.which are adapted'to engage with 'a thread on. the indicator mem-ber. 'Ihe yoke 21|.- .isalso provided at the top with resilient pawls.v 215, 2,'Iv which correspondin function with the resilient pawls I9, I9 onV the lbreaking device The indicator member -or outer'- closure 32' is similar to the member 3 shownv in, Figs. 1 and 3, being provided with an internal thread 4a and` with. a readily breakable top portion 5a. 'Ihe threadidEL is preferably ofthe `buttress type so as to be more readily engagedV by the resilient pawls 26, 26.

In usingy the closure means shown in Figs. 4- totr the primary closure yI8A isrst .screwed `into positionin accordance with usual practice., Then the-yoke 2|, is snapped into place, the notches. 25, 25 thereof fitting the lugs'l5, I5 on the bottle. Withthe yoke in place, the indicator lmember or outer closure 3am can be put in place, and on accountuof the resiliency of the pawlsY 26, 26 this member .may be pushedv vertically downward without rotation. A slight nal rotative vmovement, may Vbe desirable in order to avoid anyv possiblelooseness. It will be observed that with the indicator member 3? inA place the pawls 21, 21 cooperate with the teeth on the breakable portion 5EL in the manner that has already been V described. With the parts thus assembled access to the contents of the container can only be obtained by first `forcibly unscrewing -the indicator member 3@ and thus causing the breaking of the portion 52L thereof. Inasmuch as `theyoke is held against rotation on the bottle there can be no tendency for the indicator Ymember 3a=to turn the primary closure la.

In orderto avoid any possible accidental unscrewing of the primary closure l'Ia byy vibration or f, otherwise, -it may be desirable to provide an annular seriesgof ratchetv teeth `28 on the closure 1a and to provide auxiliary resilient pawls 29, 219 onthe yoke 2|. When such ratchetteeth and auX- iliaryfpayvls are ,provided it will be evident that accidental unscrewing movement of the primary closure is positively prevented.

In Figs. 'l and-8. there lis-shown a .construction which diiers from those shown in Figs. 1 to 6 in that the, indicator member or outer closure is threadedly engaged directly with theprimary closure withoutv the use of an` auxiliary vmetallic device :such as the ring or the yokez 21|. With; this constructionthe bottle 3|)A may be of entirely standard construction.

'L'he ,primary closure, .3| is provided not, only with lan internal thread -to'V engage the external threadiionfthe bottle 3|l-,xbut it is; also provided with an 'external thread adapteda'to be engaged by -an internal'ithread' on the/indicator membery or outer closure.

The primaryfclosure3| maybe off'V molded material, as. shown inFigs.A 1 and"4, but .there :are practical. diflicultiesin the way ofj economically molding such a closure with, both. internaland.external threads. The closure '3| is preferably therefore formed of metal havingv a thread S32 rolled'therein, therethus being readily provided .both .an internal thread and an rexternal thread. With the closure 3| formed of metal the necessary resilient pawls '33, 33 can be torined'integ-rallywith the top Wall ofthe closure, thus avoiding the necessity for a separate breaking device such as the device I8 vshown in Figs.

' The indicator member' or outer closure `lib-.is formed with an interna-l thread 4bv adapted to engage the thread on the exterior of the closure 3|.. Itnisztalso provided with areadily breakable top portion 5U similar to` the readily breakable topl portion-5 shown in Figs. 1 and 3i.

In. using; the yclosure means shown' in Figs. 7 and Sitheiprimary closure 35| is put in place-.in accordance with usual practice. Then the indicator memberbrouterA closure 3b is screwed into engagement with the rexternal.z thread on the .pril marycIoSure, .the resilient pawls 33, 33 engaging the-.teeth on the breakab'le portion bin'the manner :alreadyv described.A Withthe pa-rts thus assembled;access to thecontentsof the container can be obtained only by rst forcibly unscrewing the indicatonmernber-"andthus causing the breakingof the topiporticn 5b thereof in themanner already described.

"Itis to be recognizedthatfwhile the lconstruction-shown in. Figs. and 8 has the advantage of simplicity. and low cost, it does not have all of the voperative advantages incident to the other constructions which have been described. It is necessary forvthe primary closure 3| to be very rmly screwedvi-nto-.place inorder tofprevent any possibleunscrewing thereof by reason of force transmitted thereto from the indicator member 3b through the pawls 33, 33; but this is not a serious objection. as it is the usual practice to apply considerable `force inscrewing such a closureintov place. The lower pori-tion of the indicator member 3b cooperates. with the bead on the bottle to preventwthe-inserton. of a tool for the purpose of turning thev primary closure 3|.`

Fig. 9 these is shown a construction whichd'fersfrom, what is shown in Figs. 1 to- 8r in ythat the indicator member or outer closure engages directly with` Ythe container instead of being retained in place by the inner or primary closure. The construction is in this respect similar tovsome of the constructions disclosed and claimedv in our before-mentioned copending application Serial No. 723,865. This construction is included herein inorder to illustrate another use for a primary closure of the type illustrated in Figs. 'l and 8;

The sheet metal primary closure shown in Fig. 9-is or may be the same as the closure 3| shown in Figs. 'I and 8` and; further description thereof is unnecessary. The indicator member or outerclosure 36 is formed with an internal thread 31 adapted to engage an external thread 38 formedl on the bottle 39. The' indicator member or outer closure 36vis provided with a readily breakable indicator portion 4|).- similar tothe portion 5 of the outer closure shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this being provided' withteeth adaptedfto cooperatewiththe resilient pawls. 33, 33 formed integrally with the` primary closure 3|. The manner of use of they closure means shown in Fig. 9 is substantially the: same as already described andrepetition is un. necessary.

While the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 3, in Figs. 4 to 6, and in Figs. 7 and 8 differ extensively as to details, they are equivalent in general principle. In each construction there is provided a normally non-rotary means separate from theV container and held against removal therefrom solely by the primary closure and adapted to be engaged by the thread on the indicator member to hold the said member in place.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the ring I with its thread |2 constitutes the normally non-rotary means separate from the container and held against removal therefrom solely by the primary closure 1, and the thread I2 of the said ring is adapted to be engaged by the internal thread on the indicator member 3 to hold the said member in place. resists, or can resist, any force tending to move the ring directly upward, and the ring in turn, by reason of the thread |2, resists any force tending to move the indicator member 3 directly upward. In the constructions shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the yoke 2| with its pawls 26 constitutes the normally non-rotary means separate from the container I and held against removal therefrom solely by the primary closure 1, and the pawls 26 on the said yoke are adapted to be engaged by the internal thread on the indicator member 3a to hold the said member in place. It is only the closure 'Ia which resists, or can resist, any force tending to move the yoke 2| directly upward, and the yoke in turn, by reason of the pawls 26, resists any force tending to move the indicator member 3a directly upward. The said indicator member 3 prevents any access to the yoke 2| and in this way prevents the said yoke from being disengaged from the primary closure, but the said indicator member has no function in holding, or assisting in holding, the yoke against removal.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the external thread formed as an integral part of the primary closure 3! constitutes the normally non-rotary means separate from the container 30 and held against removal therefrom solely by the primary closure, and the said external thread is adapted to be engaged by the internal thread on the indicator member 3b to hold the said member in place. It is only the closure 3| which resists, or can resist, any force tending to move the external thread thereon directly upward, and the said external thread in turn resists any force tending to move the indicator member 3b directly upward.

What we claim is:

l. The combination of a container havingl an opening with an adjacent external thread, a primary closure and an internally threaded indicator member at least partly enclosing the closure and interconnected therewith through the medium of the said internal thread so that the closure prevents direct upward movement of the indicator member while permitting relative rotative movement controlled by the said thread, the said primary closure having an internal thread in engagement with the container thread and serving to close the container opening and the said indicator member being free from any engagement with the container tending to prevent direct upward movement, and a normally concealed means associated with the closure and the indicator member and adapted to permit thc aforesaid relative rotative movement of the indicator member in the direction to screw it into its normal position but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator member upon relative rotative It is only the closure 'l which.

movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

2. The combination in a container closure means, of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an externally visible readily breakable internally threaded indicator member structurally separate from the closure and adapted to at least partly cover it to prevent removal thereof while the indicator member is in place and unbroken, normally non-rotary means separate from the container and held against direct upward removal therefrom solely by the primary closure and adapted to be engaged by the thread on the indicator member to hold the said member in place, and a normally concealed means associated with the closure and the indicator member and adapted to permit free rotative movement of the indicator member in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator member upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

3. The combination in a container closure means, of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an internally threaded outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, normally non-rotary means separate from the container and held against direct upward removal therefrom solely by the primary closure and adapted to be engaged by the thread on the outer closure to hold the said outer closure in place, and a normally concealed means associated with the primary and outer closures and adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

4. In a container closure means, the combination of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an internally threaded outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, a normally non-rotary metallic device separate from the container and from the primary closure and held against direct upward removal from the former solely by the latter, the said device being adapted to be engaged by the thread on the indicator member to hold the said member in place, and a normally concealed means associated with the closure and the indicator member and adapted to permit free rotative movement of the indicator member in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator member upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

5. In a container closure means, the combination of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an externally visible readily breakable internally threaded indicator member structurally separate from the closure and adapted to at least partly cover it to prevent removal thereof while the indicator member is in place and unbroken, a metallic device separate from the container and from the primary closure and held against direct upward removal from the tormerfsolely `by lthe latter, .the said device being adapted to be engaged by a portion 'of 'the container to prevent relative rotation and being adapted to :be engaged vby the thread on `the indicator cmember to -lhold the said member Linplace, :and a normally yconcealed means-asso- 'elated 'with the closure and-the indicator member 'and adapted to permit free rotative movement of theindicator memberin the direction to screw it into 'its normal position in relation to the container but vadapted fto automatically engage and vbreak theindicator member upon rotative movement' thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

f6. -A container closure means comprising in combination, 'a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an internally threaded outer closure structurally separate fromv the prirnaryclosure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, a normally non-rotary vexternally threaded ring surrounding the primary closure and separate therefrom, the 4said ring being held against removal 'from the container solely by the primary fclosure-andbeing adapted to 'be engaged by the thread on the indicator member to hold the said member in place, anda normally concealed means associated With 4the closure and the indicator member and adapted 'to perm-it free rotative move- `ment of the indicator member inv the direction to screw it into" its 'normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically Ven- .gage' and break the indicator member upon 'ro- `tative movement ythereof inthe opposite unsorewing direction.

7. A container closure means comprising in combination, a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an internally threaded 'outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely -cover yit and having'an :integral portion constituting an `externally 'visible readily 'breaka'ble indicator, an externally threaded ring surrounding'the primary closure and separate therefrom, the said ring being held 4against removal Vfrom the container solely by the primary closure and being adapted to be engaged by a portion of the container to prevent relative rotation 'and being engaged by 'the thread on the indicator vmember to hold the said member 'in place', 'and a normally concealed means associated with the 'closure vand the indicator member and adapted to 'permit free rotative movement of` the indicator member in 'the direction to screw it into its-normal position in relation 'to' the 'container but adapted to 'automatically'enga'ge 'and break the indicator 'member upon rotative `movement thereof in the opposite unscre'wing direction.

8.Y Thev combination of a primary closure adaptedv to .normallyblo'se 3a container opening, an internally 'threaded outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a normally nonrotary metallic yoke separate from the container and engaging the primary closure to prevent upward removal therefrom, the said yoke having portions at opposite sides adapted to be engaged by the thread on the outer closure to hold the said outer closure in place and having an integral portion at the top adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into its normal position `-iii'ifelation to the container but adapted toauto- Mrmalticaflly engage andbreakthe' `indicator tion of the outer closure upon 'rotative movement Pthereof inthe opposite "unscivving direction.

19'. vThe combination of a primary closure adaptec'i to normally close a container' opening, San internally threaded outer Ac'losurefstructur'ally separate 'from the primary closure and 'adapted to entirely cover -it and having yan integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and having internal teeth-formed thereon, and a normally non-rotary `metallic yoke separate from the 'container vand lengaging the primary closure to prevent upward 'removal therefrom, the said yoke havingpor'tions at opposite sides adapted vto be engaged byithe threadon the outer-closure to hold the-said -out'er closure in place and havingfintegr'al resilient pawls at the top adapted Ato Snap over the teeth on the indicator of vthe outer clos'ureduringv rotative movement 4'of the vsaid closure in fthe idirec'- "tion to screwit 'into itsnorrrial position in rela'- "tion to the container but adapted Vto automatically engage and hold the said teethar'idlthereby'break "the said indicator portion upon rotative movement of the said closure in the opposite unsorew'- ing direction. l v

V10. The combination of a primary closure adapted to normally close acontainer opening, an internally threaded outer closure structurally separate from 'the primary closure and adapted to 'entirely-'cover it and yhaving an integral portion at the 'top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a metallic yoke separate from the container and engaging the primary closure 'to prevent upward "removal therefrom vand adapted to engage the container to `prevent rotation relative thereto, the s'aid` yoke having portions at opposite sides adapted 'to be engaged by v'the thread on the outer closure 'to hold the said outer closurev in 'place and having an 'integral portion at the top adapted to permit free rotative movement of the'outer closure in the direction to screw' it into'its normal position in relation tothe container but ladaltited to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of thel 'outer closure upon rotative movement V'thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

11. The combination of a primary 'closure having an internal thread Vadapted to engage an exjt'ernal 'thread on a container and adapted to normally close the container opening, the said primaryV closure being provided With external ratchet teeth, an internally tl'ireadedfouter closure structuraliyseparate from the primary c10- Sl'lle and adapted t0 'ntie'ly' 'C`O`Ve`1 'it 'a'd/ having an :integral Vportion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable vindicator having internal Vteeth -fo'rmed thereon, `Vand a metallic yokeseparate from 4the container land engaging the primaryv closure l)to prevent. upvvard removal therefrom and adapted to engage vthe container to prevent rotation relative thereto, the said yoke having portions at opposite sides adapted to be engaged by the thread on the outer closure to hold the said outer closure in place and having resilient pawls adapted to engage the ratchet teeth on the primary closure to prevent rotation thereof and the said yoke also having integral resilient pawls at the top adapted to snap over the teeth on the indicator of the outer closure during rotative movement of the said closure in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and hold the said teeth and thereby break the said indicator portion upon rotative movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

12. In a container closure means, the combination of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, a metallic yoke separate from the container and engaging the primary closure to prevent upward removal therefrom and adapted to engage the container to prevent rotation relative thereto, the said yoke having resilient pawls at opposite sides adapted to permit the outer closure to be moved freely downward into its normal position and to prevent upward movement thereof, and means at the top of the primary closure adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in one direction but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite direction.

13. In a container closure means, the combination of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening, an outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a metallic yoke separate from the container and engaging the primary closure to prevent upward Vremoval therefrom and adapted to engage the container to prevent rotation relative thereto, the said yoke having resilient pawls at opposite sides adapted to permit the outer closure to be moved freely downward into its normal position and to prevent upward movement thereof and the said yoke having an integral portion at the top adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in one direction but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite direction.

14. The combination in a container closure means, of a primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening and having an external thread formed integrally thereon, an outer clo- Vsure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion constituting an Vexternally visible readily breakable indicator, the said outer closure having an internal thread adapted to engage the external thread on the primary closure, and a normally concealed means associated with the primary and vouter closures and adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

15. The combination in a container closure means, of a sheet metal primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening and having a peripheral thread exposed both internally and externally and adapted to engage an external thread on the container, an outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an integral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, the said outer closure having an internal thread adapted to engage the said thread on the primary closure, and a normally concealed means associated with the primary and outer closures and adapted to permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into its normal position in relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement thereof in the opposite unscrewing direction.

16. The combination in a container closure means, of a sheet metal primary closure adapted to normally close a container opening and having a peripheral thread exposed both internally and externally and adapted to engage an external thread on the container, the said primary closure having at the top upward projecting integral resilient pawls, and an outer closure structurally separate from the primary closure and adapted to entirely cover it and having an internal thread adapted to engage the said thread on the primary closure and also having at the top an integral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator with internal teeth formed thereon, the said teeth being adapted to pass freely over the aforesaid resilient pawls during rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into normal position but being adapted to be engaged by the said pawls to break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement in the opposite unscrewing direction.

17. A sheet metal primary closure adapted toI normally close a container opening and having a peripheral thread exposed both internally and externally and adapted to engage an external thread on the container, the said primary closure having at the top upward projecting integral resilient pawls adapted to freely snap over internal teeth formed on a readily breakable top portion of a threaded outer closure during rotative movement of the outer closure in the direction to screw it into normal position and also adapted to engage and hold the said teeth to break the indicator portion of the outer closure upon rotative movement in the opposite unscrewing direction.

BENJAIMIN F. CONNER. WILLIAM F. SCHMALZ. 

